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Published on
16/01/17
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“EU Takes Historic Step on Animal Welfare: Council Endorses First-Ever EU-Wide Rules for Dogs and Cats”
The European Pet Organization (EPO) as the voice of the pet sector at European level welcomes the Council’s endorsement, announced today, of the provisional agreement establishing the first EU-wide standards for the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats. This milestone marks a decisive step toward stronger consumer protection, enhanced animal welfare, and the effective fight against illegal pet trade across Europe. Under the new legislation, minimum welfare requirements will apply to breeders, shelters, and selling establishments. Under this category, registered pet stores are formally recognised as legitimate and regulated actors within the companion animal supply chain — a development long championed by EPO throughout the negotiation process. A core element of the agreement is enhanced EU-wide traceability. All dogs and cats sold or transferred — including those offered in pet stores — must be microchipped and recorded in interoperable national databases. This will significantly reduce opportunities for illegal trade and ensure more transparent movement of companion animals across the EU. The legislation introduces strict, science-based breeding provisions, including minimum and maximum breeding ages, a ban on inbreeding, a ban on hybrid breeding, the exclusion of extreme conformational traits, mandatory veterinary supervision and obligatory responsible ownership information provided at the point of sale. In addition, imports from outside the EU will be required to meet equivalent welfare and traceability standards, supported by a new EU pet travellers’ database to ensure consistent controls at the Union’s external borders. Importantly, the agreement contains no reference to an EU-wide positive list of pet species. The scope remains strictly limited to dogs and cats, in full alignment with the Commission’s original proposal — another key issue on which EPO has actively advocated. “This represents a major EU milestone in combating illegal puppy trade, improving welfare outcomes for dogs and cats, and harmonising rules for all actors involved in their care, breeding, and sale, while acknowledging the important role of pet store in responsible pet ownership and transfer”, said EPO President Svein A. Fosså With the Council’s endorsement, the proposal now moves toward formal adoption, marking a historic step forward for animal welfare and for a responsible, transparent companion animal trade across Europe. EPO now looks forward to the final adoption of the text, enabling a full review of its content and implications for its members. It also stands ready to contribute the sector’s expertise and experience as EU authorities develop the implementing and delegated acts — the ABC — needed to ensure the new rules can be fully and effectively applied.
28/11/25
EPO Holds Its First Members Seminar in Brussels
The European Pet Organization (EPO) successfully held its first Members Seminar in Brussels on October 21st, 2025. The seminar aimed to strengthen members’ understanding of the EU decision-making process and provide insights into key policy topics currently high on the European agenda. The event was structured in two parts: Morning session: Interventions and discussions with experts, including representatives from the European Commission and other stakeholders active in the EU policy sphere. Participants exchanged views on current legislative developments and their impact on the pet sector. Afternoon session: A guided tour of the European Parliament, offering participants a closer look at the workings of EU institutions. This first Members Seminar marks an important milestone in EPO’s commitment to ensuring that its members are well-informed and actively engaged in the European policy landscape.
23/10/25
EPO joins the EU Platform on Animal Welfare
The European Pet Organization (EPO) is proud to announce its participation as a new member of the EU Platform on Animal Welfare, which met on October 16–17, 2025. Under the Platform’s new 2025–2030 mandate, EPO will represent the voice of the European pet sector, contributing expertise to support responsible pet keeping, improved welfare standards, and collaborative policymaking across the EU. Established by the European Commission in 2017, the Platform brings together Member States, stakeholders, and experts to:✅ Strengthen the implementation of EU animal welfare rules;✅ Encourage voluntary business commitments;✅ Promote EU standards globally.EPO looks forward to constructively engaging with the Platform’s activities and contributing to a strong, collaborative approach to animal welfare in Europe.
17/10/25
EPO at the European Parliament
In the scope of the EU preparation for the CITES CoP20, the European Pet Organization (EPO) through its President, Svein A. Fosså contributed on September 25th, 2025 to the discussion held at the European Parliament by the MEP Group on 'Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development with its event “On the way to CITES CoP20: Acknowledging CITES’ role as an international trade convention securing the sustainable management of wildlife resources”.In his intervention, President Svein A. Fosså emphasized on the importance of CITES as the international convention ensuring sustainable, legal & traceable trade, while acknowledging the one of scientific based evidences within the decision making process.Intervention which found quite a resonance with the ones from the CITES Secretariat , Karen Gaynor, FAO Kim Friedman and UNEP Brussels office, Nicolas Galudec.
01/10/25